Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez scored late goals as Barcelona salvaged a 4-4 draw at Villarreal in La Liga last night in a game that saw both teams give up a two-goal lead.

Messi rifled a free-kick in off the upright to make it 4-3 in the 90th minute, and Suarez shot through the legs of a defender to snatch a point with the last kick of the match.

The draw narrowed Barcelona's lead to eight points ahead of Atletico Madrid, who defeated Girona 2-0 and visit Camp Nou this weekend.

Messi was on the bench for the first hour but Barcelona still took a quick 2-0 lead after Malcom set up Philippe Coutinho before scoring one of his own.

But relegation-threatened Villarreal roared back with 19-year-old Samuel Chukwueze leading the way and produced four unanswered goals to come agonisingly close to pulling off the upset. Barcelona's comeback then came after Alvaro Gonzales was sent off for a second booking in the 86th.

Messi's goal was his 32nd of the season. He has now scored from free-kicks in three consecutive matches.

Derry City began the defence of their EA Sports League Cup with a 3-0 win over First Division side Longford at the Brandywell last night as Junior Ogide-Uzokwe, Eoghan Stokes and Gerardo Bruna all got on the scoresheet.